China Protests U.S. South China Sea Freedom of Navigation Operation

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) conducts a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea, March 24. Milius is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. US Navy Photo

A U.S. warship conducted a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea, near the Parcel Islands, the day after China claimed it chased away the ship from its territorial waters, U.S. 7th Fleet announced Friday.

USS Milius (...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/24/china-protests-u-s-south-china-sea-freedom-of-navigation-operation

Makin Island ARG Docks in Busan, 3 LCS Now Underway in Indo-PACOM

USS Makin Island (LHD-8) conducts a photo exercise and replenishment-at-sea with the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Chung Hoon (DDG 93), March 15, 2023. US Navy Photo

The Makin Island Amphibious Group (ARG) docked at the port of Busan in the Republic of Korea (ROK) as part of their participation in the U.S.-ROK Exercise Ssangyong this week.

Exercise Ssangyong was on hiatus since 2018 after the previous Moon Jae-in government suspended major U.S.- Republic of Korea military exercises to lower...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/24/makin-island-arg-docks-in-busan-3-lcs-now-underway-in-indo-pacom

Project Overmatch Targeting R&D Tops Navy’s Fiscal Year 2024 Wishlist, $550M for Facility Overhauls

Operations Specialist 3rd Class Zachary Ezekiel, assigned to the guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61), identifies air contacts in the combat information center (CIC) on March 21, 2016. Monterey is underway conducting Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) with the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group in preparation for a future deployment. US Navy photo.

If the Navy could ask for funds in Fiscal Year 2024, it would prioritize more infrastructure to target potential adversaries in support...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/24/project-overmatch-targeting-rd-tops-navys-fiscal-year-2024-wishlist-550m-for-facility-overhauls

Ford Aircraft Carrier John F. Kennedy to Deliver a Year Late

In this aerial photograph, the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) sits at Pier 3 at Newport News Shipbuilding division. The ship is approximately 76 percent complete and is progressing through final outfitting and testing. Huntington Ingalls Industries photo.

The next Ford-class aircraft carrier will now deliver to the Navy in 2025, one year later than the service’s most recent projection, according to Fiscal Year 2024 budget documents released this week.

The Navy delayed future carrier J...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/23/ford-aircraft-carrier-john-f-kennedy-to-deliver-a-year-late

NORTHCOM: Russia Close to Persistent Nuclear Cruise Missile Attack Sub Presence off U.S. Coasts

The Yasen-M nuclear cruise missile submarine Krasnoyarsk in January. Tass Photo

Russia could have its most powerful and quiet nuclear attack submarines on persistent patrols off either U.S. Coast in the next two years, the head of U.S. Northern Command told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday.

In response to questions from Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) on the threat of Chinese and Russian cruise missile submarines operating close to the U.S., NORTHCOM commander Gen. Glen VanHerck said that...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/23/northcom-russia-close-to-persistent-nuclear-cruise-missile-attack-sub-presence-off-u-s-coasts

White House Nominates New N7, Air Boss, NAVSEA Commander

(l to r) Vice Adm. Vice Adm. Daniel Dwyer, Rear Adm. Daniel Cheever, Rear Adm. James Downey. USNI News graphic

The White House has nominated the next admiral to oversee shipbuilding and repair, the next Air Boss and the next admiral in charge of naval education, the Department of Defense announced this week.

Rear Adm. Daniel Cheever was nominated for a third star and to command Naval Air Forces, as well as to lead Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. If confirmed by the Senate, Cheever is set to...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/23/white-house-nominates-new-n7-air-boss-navsea-commander

U.S. 7th Fleet Denies Destroyer was Expelled from South China Sea Island Chain

Guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG-69) steams alongside the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE-10) during an underway replenishment while operating in the Philippine Sea, March 16. US Navy Photo

VA – The Navy denied that an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile illegally entered China’s maritime territory and was chased off by People’s Liberation Army forces, contradicting claims by China’s Southern Theatre Command.

China claimed early Thursday morning that USS Milius...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/23/u-s-7th-fleet-denies-destroyer-was-expelled-from-south-china-sea-island-chain

$3.6B Marine Corps Wish List Again Asks for Stalled Amphibious Warship

Shipbuilder welding on the bow section of a future San Antonio-class amphibious warship at Ingalls Shipbuilding on Aug. 4, 2022. USNI News Photo

For the second year in a row, the Marine Corps is asking Congress for an amphibious warship the Navy doesn’t plan to buy.

At the top of the Marines’ Fiscal Year 2024 unfunded priorities list is $1.7 billion for LPD-33, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock that the Navy did not include in its five-year budget outlook released last week. While the...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/22/3-6b-marine-corps-wish-list-again-asks-for-stalled-amphibious-warship

DDG(X) $122M Land-Based Test Site Opens in Philadelphia

Notional Navy DDG(X) hull design. PEO Ships Image

Program Executive Officer Ships opened the land-based test facility for its next-generation guided-missile destroyer propulsion system in Philadelphia, the Navy announced this week.

The site at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division will host a $122 million full-scale complete integrated propulsion system for the DDG(X), according to a budget summary of the site reviewed by USNI News.

As part of the Fiscal Year 2020 and 2022...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/22/ddgx-122m-land-based-test-site-opens-in-philadelphia

Research Ship that Found Famous WWII Wrecks Damaged in Scotland Dry Dock, Several Injured

R/V Petrel on its side in a Scotland dry dock on March 22, 2023. Photo Via Twitter

A Navy research vessel tipped over while in dry dock in Edinburgh Wednesday, according to local reports.

R/V Petrel appeared to tip about 45 degrees while in dry dock in the Imperial Dock in Leith, Edinburgh, according to the newspaper The Independent. The paper reported 21 people were taken to the hospital with injuries with another 12 treated at the dock and released.

Petrel dislodged from the dry dock a Scotland...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/22/research-ship-that-found-famous-wwii-wrecks-damaged-in-scotland-dry-dock-several-injured

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